In addition to pre-school expansion exploration approval, a report located elsewhere in this edition, Unified School District 362 board of education members heard a report on pre-Christmas testing at their Jan. 9 monthly meeting.
Beth Sandness, district student services director, reported on results from FastBridge testing, which she defined as a “universal screener.” Complete data from the tests can be found under the ‘aReading’ and ‘aMath’ tabs under Item 6.3 of the Jan. 9 board agenda at http://www.pv362.org.
Sandness said that the tests reflected student growth as the same as the fall FastBridge battery, but Brad Heide, board member, voiced concern about areas showing 10 percent decreases.
Sandness said those classes would be “drilled down into” and said causes might include a higher special education population or high “move-ins and move-outs.”
Asked by Richard Gravelle, board member, of the number of tests given annually, Sandness said FastBridge is administered three, and in some cases, four times yearly, along with spring state assessments and some in-class indicators.
Observed Gravelle, “Sometimes kids don’t do well because they’re being tested an excessive number of times.”
Heide asked for help in clarifying the results, noting the percentages above and below benchmarks. Sandness said the dark-red color-coding at the bottom of each vertical graph indicates highest risk. She said further observations will be studied after FastBridge testing near the end of the third quarter and/or the end of the school year.
In answer to Wade Teagarden, board president, Sandness said FastBridge benchmarks increase an average of three to five points each testing period.
Sandness also addressed a question from Russell Pope, board member, concerning anticipated high school graduation changes occurring probably with the Class of 2028 (this year’s seventh graders).
“The Kansas State Board of Education is still trying to figure out which class it would apply to,” she said.
Sandness outlined changes that will reduce English/language arts (ELA) requirements by a half-credit from the four now, with the other half-credit in speech, drama or communications. She said the current one-credit combined health/physical education credit will be broken into two separate semesters.
A semester of financial literacy will be required, but Sandness said Prairie View already requires that course for a full year. Also under the new requirements will be a course in higher-level ELA, mathematics, or career technical education, as well as two post-secondary “assets” that could be college hours already earned, technical certification, or outside activities such as 4-H or Scouts.
A study of the current senior class shows that “only five now that wouldn’t have met those qualifications,” Sandness said.
Sandness also showed results from the first-semester Buffalo Attendance Matters (BAM) initiative where 69 percent of district students were at 90 percent or above attendance as compared to 65 percent at the same time last year. She said 96 letters were sent to express first-semester attendance concerns as compared to 116 this time last year.
“I think BAM is working, primarily at the elementary level,” Sandness said of the incentive. “We have really good business partners.”
Under recognition, Rex Bollinger, Ed.D., district superintendent, read a statement praising members for School Board Appreciation Month. He noted Teagarden in his 14th year, Heide in his 12th, Rita Boydston in her 10th, Pope in his fifth, Brad Stainbrook and Brian Uphoff in their fourth, and Gravelle in his first.
In other business before the board;
- After accepting nominations by acclamation, unanimous votes re-elected Teagarden as president and Boydston as vice president for 2023.
- During consent agenda financial statements, Bollinger answered a Heide concern about a computer-generated check to Jason Bloodgood, trapshooting team coach, of $7,200 for full-year ammunition reimbursement. “He has to pay?” asked Heide, with Bollinger saying that Bloodgood “gets the deal, and we reimburse because he likes it that way.”
- Tamala Snyder, high school mathematics teacher, made a Building Thinking Classrooms presentation, an approach she heard at a Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics conference last year that incorporates cooperative problem solving skills for three days, Thursday checks for understanding, and Friday quizzes. Saying it is “working well with all three” high school math teachers (Casey Konda and Jenny Trumbly included), Snyder said she would “love for it to spread K-12.” Bollinger said an August in-service has been arranged.
MEETINGS
LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, October 23, 2023

The Linn County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, Oct. 23, and began their weekly meeting with the approval of the minutes of the last meeting followed by the approval of claims in the amount of $272,818.97. Linn County Rural Fire Chief Randy Hegwald presented... [More]
LA CYGNE CITY COUNCIL - Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Among actions at the regular La Cygne council meeting last Wednesday, Oct. 18, was a split vote in which the city accepts a draft agreement for title search and warranty deed preparation of seven lots at 402 S. Broadway in exchange for absorbing a $16,400 house demolition bill.... [More]
LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 23, 2023

The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 23, 2023, with Mayor Cindy Smith presiding and all council members present. Following approval of the October 9th and October 14th meeting minutes, Mayor Smith opened the floor... [More]
More Meetings
- USD 362 SCHOOL BOARD - Tuesday, October 17, 2023
- LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, October 2, 2023
- PLEASANTON CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 2, 2023
- BLUE MOUND CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 2, 2023
- LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, August 28, 2023
- LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, August 28, 2023
- USD 344 SCHOOL BOARD - Monday, August 14, 2023
- USD 346 SCHOOL BOARD - Monday, August 14, 2023
NEWS
Souza resigns county clerk post

Linn County’s county clerk is resigning. At the weekly Linn County Commission meeting Tuesday morning, delayed a day because of Monday’s governmental Columbus Day holiday, Danielle Souza spoke during the public comment agenda section of her intention to resign the... [More]
Farmers State Bank under new ownership

Time moves on and things change – and the banking world is not exempt from those changes. When Farmers State Bank owner Dale Sprague passed away in August of 2024, his wife Janice and family made those changes when they sold the three banks this fall to Citizen Bank owner’s... [More]
Linn Valley council updated on water, lagoon projects

Linn Valley city council held its first meeting of the month on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Lewis Donelson began the meeting by asking city employees present at the meeting to stand up front and introduce themselves and state their job title. The mayor continued by... [More]
More News
- Suit filed in Sunshine Meadows building permit case
- Pleasanton demos asphalt zipper for street repair
- La Cygne awards lift station bid
- Appraiser’s office announces completion of review
- SPECIAL: KBI conducts statewide marijuana enforcement operation
- Pleasanton council vetoed on fire volunteer appointments
- Kansas Policy Institute talks property taxes with legislature
- Pleasanton city candidate forum Oct. 6
SPORTS
Schneider makes State for Hawks in girls’ golf

Celeste Schneider made the 3-1A State golf tournament again this year for the Lady Hawks and will be looking to earn another State medal. To see the full article, check out this week's edition of the Linn County News or check out the online version here.
Wade and Britz advance to State for the Buffalos

The Prairie View girls’ golf team is doing well. The girls won the Pioneer League championship at Deer Trace on Oct. 7 and then followed that up by placing fourth at 3-1A Sub-State tournament at Crestwood in Pittsburg on Oct. 13. The Lady Buffs won the league tournament... [More]
Blu-Jays convert takeaways into Homecoming win

Pleasanton converted two second-quarter fumble recoveries and a third-quarter interception into passing touchdowns to break a three-game losing skid and claim a 41-6 Homecoming win over Southeast-Cherokee Friday at Blu-Jay Nation Stadium. The victory moves the ‘Jays’... [More]
More Sports
- Lady Jays host league triangular and competes at Uniontown
- Jayhawk volleyball has a busy successful week
- Jayhawk football wins thriller over Pleasanton on Homecoming
- Prairie View football dominates Burlington on Homecoming
- Pleasanton volleyball travels to Arma and Prairie View
- Jayhawk volleyball goes 4-0 on the week
- Pleasanton volleyball competes at Yates Center and Humboldt
- Prairie View football picks up a big win against Wellsville